The best places to get a lobster roll in New England (2024)

Restaurants

Boston.com readers recommended 160 lobster roll restaurants, calling them 'the taste of summer' and 'the dish you wish you could eat every day.'

By Shira Laucharoen

August 16, 2022

Whether you’re sitting down to lunch with friends or grabbing one to go to enjoy by the seaside, there’s nothing that says New England more than fresh chunks of lobster nestled in a bun. The lobster roll is a regional delicacy here.

Many lobster roll restaurants said business has been busy this summer. Matt Gelly, owner of Raw Bar in Mashpee, said that for a while, lobster prices were high, too.

“Prices exploded around late June of last year and never came down all winter long; nothing was changing,” Gelly said. “They weren’t going any higher, but they weren’t coming down. That’s kind of how it went all the way until early June of this year, when they started to slowly drop.”

Because prices were so high, the restaurant decided to offer a smaller lobster roll for those wishing to spend less money and not indulge in a larger dish.

Boston.com readers told us about their favorite places to get a lobster roll, and Red’s Eats in Maine took the No. 1 honor with 8% of the vote, with Raw Bar coming in at No. 2.

Readers shared 160 different places in New England where the dish can be ordered, and we’ve included every recommendation in a map below. Scroll down to see the top five picks, as well as a complete list of the best lobster rolls in New England.

A🏆means that this spot was among the top 5 in 2021 and 2022. Restaurants are also marked for whether their lobster rolls are served 🦞 (hot) or 🧊 (cold).

5. Belle Isle Seafood 🏆 🧊

Belle Isle Seafood, located in Winthrop, is a classic seafood shack with scenic harbor views. The spot serves a cold lobster roll, with just a dollop of mayonnaise, “just enough to hold it together,” owner Jim Costin said. Belle Isle’s version uses tail, knuckle, and claw meat from Maine hardshell lobsters. Served on a traditional, lightly buttered hot dog bun, Costin said that Belle Isle’s lobster roll stands out because of its simplicity — they don’t use celery or tomato, sometimes added for extra color. Taking 3% of the vote, Belle Isle is a standout. Reader Meg W. from Winthrop said: “From the buttered bun to the perfect blend of lobster meat to mayo, it’s perfection.”

1 Main St., Winthrop

4. Neptune Oyster 🏆 🦞 🧊

The bustling oyster bar in the North End often draws a line for its raw bar and lobster rolls, earning 3% of the vote. Neptune Oyster uses a warm, toasted brioche roll for its lobster roll, and you can have yours either hot or cold. It comes accompanied by sea salt fries and can also be ordered without the bun. Alan S. from Newton said of the warm version of the fare: “Hot buttered heaven. One of my 10 favorite dishes in the world — and I travel a lot. Succulent, no accessories like mayo or celery needed; the lobster meat sings, and the roll hugs it, and this is the dish you wish you could eat every day.”

63 Salem St # 1, Boston

3. Day’s Crabmeat & Lobster 🧊

Customers come up to the walk-up window at Day’s in Maine, which has been open since the 1920s, and order a lobster roll to eat at the picnic tables outside. Kitchen manager Tracy Hanna said that the fresh lobster, picked every morning, makes the rolls so tasty. “The smaller the lobster you go, the sweeter the meat,” Hanna said. “The larger lobsters are tough and not as sweet, the two pounders and larger. Anything under a pound and a quarter is good, tender meat.” Day’s gathered 4% of the vote. Linda from Freeport, Maine said: “It is prepared the good old fashioned way — in a fresh hot dog roll with a tiny bit of mayo and a secret blend of spices.”

1269 US-1, Yarmouth, Maine

2. Raw Bar 🧊

Raw Bar, located in Popponesset Marketplace in Mashpee, took 4% of the vote. The restaurant is a favorite among readers, serving up famous, “colossal” lobster rolls. Many customers share the dish, served on a split torpedo roll from a local bakery, and loaded with meat from Maine and Canada hard shell lobsters. They have a light layer of mayonnaise and can be enjoyed with a bit of lemon. “We have a crew of boys that shuck the lobsters and prepare the meat,” staff member Annie Murner said. “The lobster is very rich, and you can’t beat the flavor.” Reader Casey from Raynham said: “When it comes to their meaty lobster rolls, simplicity and size defines what all lobster roll purists seek and, The Raw Bar does not disappoint … Wash it all down with Narragansett for the perfect New England combo!”

259 Shore Drive, Mashpee

1. Red’s Eats 🧊

A line always forms outside this iconic, red shack in Maine. Red’s Eats, which took 8% of the vote, is a destination for many lobster lovers, and their cold rolls are piled high with fresh meat, with a whole, split tail to top it off. They come with a side of warm butter and mayonnaise, and you can taste the saltwater on the lobster. “Each roll has claws sticking out on both ends, the middle is filled with torn up (must not use a knife!) tails, knuckles and claws, and then the top is dressed with an entire tail,” owner Debbie Gagnon said in an email. “It’s fabulous!”

Reader Jameson from Winthrop said: “Normally, I don’t buy into the hype about a restaurant, ever, but this place is truly our favorite for lobster rolls! The hour wait to get to the window to order is unfortunate, to be sure, but the fact that you’re going to get something absolutely delicious more than makes up for any inconvenience. Yes, a lot of celebrities, real and imagined, want to have their photo taken at Red’s, but don’t be put off by that. … The melted butter that comes with it is clarified (thanks for the extra step!), and when you pour it over the sandwich, it becomes the most delicious piece of heaven you can imagine. It’s not cheap, but something this good never is. Also, there isn’t a gob of mayonnaise and unnecessary debris so that you can’t taste the lobster … Really is the taste of summer!”

41 Water St., Wiscasset, Maine

Honorable mentions:

Sesuit Harbor Cafe: The lobster roll, which uses ample claw meat, comes served with lettuce, and fries and homemade coleslaw are on the side. The Cape Cod spot also has great scenic views, making the line worth it, readers say. 357 Sesuit Neck Road, Dennis

The Beach Plum: with locations around New Hampshire, these eateries makes different sized lobster rolls, on a toasted hot dog bun. You can get yours cold with mayo or try the hot sautéed lobster roll, with butter. 2800 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, N.H.

Here’s the complete list of reader-recommended lobster rolls:

A⭐️means that this shop was voted among the top 5 at some point over the past two years.

Massachusetts

• 1048 Bar and Grill, 1048 North Main St., Randolph
• 167 Raw Nantucket, 167 Hummock Pond Road, Nantucket
• 99 Restaurants, 317 Salem Street, Lynnfield
• Alive & Kicking Lobsters ⭐️, 269 Putnam Ave., Cambridge
• Barnacle Restaurant Inc, 141 Front St., Marblehead
• Beach House, 95 Otis St., Hingham
• Belle Isle Seafood ⭐️, 1 Main St., Winthrop
• Blue Marlin Grille, 65 Eastern Ave., Essex
• Bob Lobster, 49 Plum Island Turnpike, Newbury
• Boston Sail Loft, 80 Atlantic Ave., Boston
• Bramhall’s Country Store, 2 Sandwich Road, Plymouth
• Brax Landing Restaurant, 705 MA-28, Harwich Port
• Bridgewaye Inn, 1265 Ferry St., Marshfield
• Cafe Chew, 4 Merchants Road, Sandwich
• Cafe Venice, 1086 Washington St., Norwood
• Captain Jack’s Roadside Shack, 102 Northampton St., Easthampton
• Cataumet Fish, 1360 Route 28 A, Cataumet
• Chart Room, 1 Shipyard Lane, Cataumet
• Chatham Pier Fish Market, 45 Barcliff Ave., Chatham
• Chatham Squire, 487 Main St., Chatham
• Choate Bridge Pub, 3 South Main St., Ipswich
• Cooke’s Seafood, 1 South Orleans Road, Orleans
• Courthouse Seafood, 498 Cambridge St., Cambridge
• , 304 Stuart St., Boston
• Edgartown Seafood Market, 138 Cooke St., Edgartown
• Eventide Oyster Co., 1321 Boylston St., Boston
• Falmouth Raw Bar, 56 Scranton Ave., Falmouth
• Friendly Fisherman Restaurant and Fish Market, 4580 US-6, Eastham
• Grace Episcopal Church, Woodlawn Ave., Vineyard Haven
• Green Harbor Lobster Pound Inc., 131 Beach St., Green Harbor
• Haddad’s Ocean Cafe, 291 Ocean St., Marshfield
• Hingham Lobster Pound, 4 Broad Cove Road, Hingham
• Horse N’ Carriage, 210 Dedham St., Norfolk
• James Hook & Co. ⭐️, 440 Atlantic Ave., Boston
• Joe’s On A Roll, 61 Federal St., Beverly
• JP’s Restaurant Pub, 166 Milk St., Westborough
• Kay’s Dairy Bar, 196 State Road West, Westminster
• Kelly’s Roast Beef, 410 Revere Beach Blvd., Revere
• Kimball Farm, 400 Littleton Road, Westford
• Larsen’s Fish Market, 56 Basin Road, Chilmark
• Legal Sea Foods, 255 State St., Boston
• Little Harbor Lobster Company, 3 Beacon St., Marblehead
• Lobster Claw, 3 Main St., North Reading
• Lobster Express Norwell, 49 Washington St., Norwell
• Lobster Hut, 25 Town Wharf, Plymouth
• Lobster Pot Express, 5 Ryder St. Extension, Provincetown
• Lobster Roll Cruises, 357 Sesuit Neck Road, East Dennis
• Lobster Trap Restaurant, 290 Shore Road, Bourne
• Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Road, Sudbury
• Lookout Tavern, 8 Seaview Ave., Oak Bluffs
• Luke’s Lobster Back Bay, 75 Exeter St., Boston
• Mac’s Shack, 91 Commercial St., Wellfleet
• Maguire’s Bar & Grill, 503 Foundry St., North Easton
• Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Company, 9 Oak Bluffs Ave., Oak Bluffs
• Menemsha Fish Market, 54 Basin Road, Chilmark
• Menemsha Galley, 515 North Road, Chilmark
• Mile Marker One Restaurant, 75 Essex Ave., Gloucester
• Moby Dicks Restaurant, 3225 US-6, Wellfleet
• Mooncusser, 304 Stuart St., Boston
• Neptune Oyster ⭐️, 63 Salem St. # 1, Boston
• New England Roast Beef, 33 Park Ave., Worcester
• Oxford Creamery, 98 County Road, Mattapoisett
• Parker’s Restaurant, 60 School St., Boston
• Quahog Republic, 97 Spring Bars Road, Falmouth
• Quincy Market, 206 S Market St., Boston
• Raw Bar ⭐️, 259 Shore Drive, Mashpee
• Row 34 ⭐️, 383 Congress St., Boston
• Roy Moore Lobster Co., 39 Bearskin Neck, Rockport
• Sagamore Inn Restaurant, 1131 Sandwich Road, Sagamore
• Saltie Girl, 279 Dartmouth St., Boston
• Sesuit Harbor Cafe, 357 Sesuit Neck Road, Dennis
• Smith & Wollensky, Atlantic Wharf, 294 Congress St., Boston
• Somebody’s Place, 38 Andover St. #4802, Andover
• Stack Shack, 10 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth
• State Street Provisions, 255 State St., Boston
• Steve & Sue’s Par-Tee Freeze & Adventure Falls Mini Golf, 455 W Main St., Hyannis
• Sullivan’s Castle Island, 2080 William J Day Blvd., South Boston
• Summer Shack, 50 Dalton St., Boston
• The Banks Fish House, 406 Stuart St., Boston
• The Barking Claw, 29 Locust St., Falmouth
• The Barking Crab, 88 Sleeper St., Boston
• The Barn Pub & Grille, 5 Ring St., Amesbury
• The Bayside Restaurant, 1253 Horseneck Road, Westport
• The Canteen, 225 Commercial St., Provincetown
• The Lobster Pool, 329 Granite St., Rockport
• The Lobster Stop, 723 Washington St., Quincy
• The Original Tommy Doyle’s Pub & Grill, 37 Oak St. Ext, Brockton
• The Red Lion Inn, 30 Main St., Stockbridge
• The Seafood Shanty (Buzzards Bay), 803 Scenic Highway, Buzzards Bay
• The Seafood Shanty (Edgartown), 31 Dock St., Edgartown
• The Take Away, 82 Chapel St., Norwood
• The Wooden Shoe, 419 Lower County Road, Dennis Port
• Tony’s Clam Shop, 861 Quincy Shore Drive, Quincy
• Twin Seafood of Acton, 541 Massachusetts Ave., Acton
• Union Oyster House, 41 Union St., Boston
• Weymouth Lobster Pound, 1350 Washington St., Weymouth
• Woodman’s of Essex, 119 Main St., Essex
• Woods Hill Pier 4, 300 Pier 4 Blvd., Boston
• Yankee Lobster, 300 Northern Ave., Boston

New Hampshire

• 12 Ocean Grill, 12 Ocean Blvd., Seabrook, N.H.
• Bentley’s Roast Beef, 134 NH-101A, Amherst, N.H.
• Brown’s Lobster Pound, 407 NH-286, Seabrook, N.H.
• Geno’s Chowder & Sandwich Shop, 177 Mechanic St., Portsmouth, N.H.
• Markey’s Lobster Pool, 420 NH-286, Seabrook, N.H.
• Newick’s Lobster House, 431 Dover Point Road, Dover, N.H.
• Pasta Loft Restaurant & Brewing Co., 241 Union Square #4, Milford, N.H.
• Petey’s Summertime Seafood, 1323 Ocean Blvd., Rye, N.H.
• Poor People’s Pub, 1 Witchtrot Road Sanbornville, N.H.
• Purple Tomato, 78 Main St., Lincoln, N.H.
• Ray’s Seafood, 1677 Ocean Blvd., Rye, N.H.
• Sanders Fish Market, 367 Marcy St., Portsmouth, N.H.
• The Beach Plum, 2800 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, N.H.
• The Little Red Schoolhouse, LLC, 1994 US-3 West, Campton, N.H.
• Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery, 58 NH-27, Raymond, N.H.

Maine

• Beal’s Lobster Pier, 182 Clark Point Road, Southwest Harbor, Maine
• Becky’s Diner, 390 Commercial St., Portland, Maine
• Bite Into Maine, Fort Williams Park, 1000 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
• Bob’s Clam Hut, 315 US-1, Kittery, Maine
• Carriage House Restaurant, 388 Ocean Point Road, East Boothbay, Maine
• Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier, 16 Chauncey Creek Road, Kittery Point, Maine
• Claws, 743 Main St., Rockland, Maine
• Cliff House Maine, 591 Shore Road, Cape Neddick, Maine
• Day’s Crabmeat & Lobster ⭐️, 1269 US-1, Yarmouth, Maine
• Eagles Nest Restaurant, 1016 North Main St., Brewer, Maine
• Erica’s Seafood, 505 Basin Point Road, Harpswell, Maine
• Five Islands Lobster Co., 1447 5 Islands Road, Georgetown, Maine
• Footbridge Lobster, 108 Perkins Cove Road, Ogunquit, Maine
• Friar’s Brewhouse, 84 Main St., Bucksport, Maine
• Governor’s Restaurant & Bakery, 963 Stillwater Ave., Old Town, Maine
• Greet’s Eats, West Main St., Vinalhaven, Maine
• Iris Eats Maine, 419 Harpswell Islands Road Building 7, Harpswell, Maine
• Ken’s Place, 207 Pine Point Road, Scarborough, Maine
• Lighthouse Wine & Seafood, 918 Western Ave., Manchester, Maine
• Lobster Shack, 110 Perkins Cove Road, Ogunquit, Maine
• Marriner’s Restaurant, 35 Main St., Camden, Maine
• McLoon’s Lobster Shack, 315 Island Road, South Thomaston, Maine
• Morrison’s Lobsters, 11 Badgers Island West, Kittery, Maine
• Mulligan’s, 926 Western Ave., Manchester, Maine
• Oarweed Restaurant, 65 Perkins Cove Road, Ogunquit, Maine
• Ocean Roll, 70 Portland Road, Kennebunk, Maine
• Port Lobster, 122 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport, Maine
• Portland Lobster Company, 180 Commercial St., Portland, Maine
• Red’s Eats ⭐️, 41 Water St., Wiscasset, Maine
• Seaview Lobster Company, 43 Government St., Kittery, Maine
• Shain’s of Maine, 1491 Main St., Sanford, Maine
• Shannon’s Unshelled, 23 Granary Way, Boothbay Harbor, Maine
• Sprague’s Lobster, 22 Main St., Wiscasset, Maine
• Sue’s Seafood, 33 Old Post Road, Kittery, Maine
• Taste of Maine Restaurant, 161 Main St., Woolwich, Maine
• The Clam Shack, 2 Western Ave., Kennebunk, Maine
• The Harbor Room Restaurant, 2477 Bristol Road, New Harbor, Maine
• The Highroller Lobster Co., 104 Exchange St., Portland, Maine
• The Porthole Restaurant & Pub, 20 Custom House Wharf, Portland, Maine
• The Stadium, Bar Harbor, 62 Main St., Bar Harbor, Maine

Rhode Island

• Gardner’s Wharf Seafood, 170 Main St., North Kingstown, R.I.
• Matunuck Oyster Bar, 629 Succotash Road, Wakefield, R.I.
• Monahan’s Clam Shack, 190 Ocean Road, Narragansett, R.I.

Connecticut

• Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock, 80 Hamilton St., New London, Conn.
• Guilford Lobster Pound, 505 Old Whitfield St. #3443, Guilford, Conn.
• Lobster Landing, 152 Commerce St., Clinton, Conn.

Do you prefer your lobster roll hot or cold?

Some take theirs cold with mayonnaise. Others take theirs hot with melted butter.